Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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I had my last chemo yesterday yay. Everything went as planned and today I still feel pretty good. Of course I know that the side effects usually don't hit till later Saturday and continue through Monday and then by thursday or friday I am good. ( well 80% good anyway) I still have eyebrows and lashes as well. I hope that I don't loose them 2 months after chemo is done eeek that would be freaky. My hair has always grown fast as well so hoping that once it does start growing back it picks up is speed from before. I do still have hair, about 3/4 long but very thin with icky bald spots. Excuse me if I am repeating myself, darn chemo brain. Today is my meeting with my breast surgeon. I have been reading all the 'pain with expander" stories and getting a bit nervous there. But I still want to do the immediate reconstruction ( unilateral left side only) .... hopefully she gives me NO reason not to.
And yes hair coming back is my most wanted thing to happen right now. I am so tired of hats and wigs and having a cold head. ( march in Michigan and we had snow last night UGH)
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Glad I could help, MaryAnn. I started the Billion Dollar Brows about a week before my last chemo, but the reccomendation is that you finish chemo first. I was just impatient!
I was lucky in that hair loss was my worst - and pretty much only -side effect. I dreaded it when I knew it was coming and I hate that I am still dealing with it. Even "short" hair seems long to me now! It really is disfiguring - and that is something that is very hard - especially for women who are "supposed" to have gorgeous, long, silky hair.
I cried when I was diagnosed not because I thought I was going to die - but because of my hair. I guess it all goes back to my being a better survivor than patient!
Congrats, Kimbly, on being done! Just think, you have nothing ahead of you now except FEELING BETTER! No more decadron - no more feeling better just in time to get whomped again, and this time, when chemo-mouth and the chemo fog clears - they WON'T come back! The best part about chemo is FINISHING CHEMO!
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Hi Everyone,
I'm back at work fulltime but I try to read the posts about once a week. I have so much more energy and I feel almost as good as I did pre-diagnosis. The nurses at my surgeon's office said it would take about a year and they were right--it's been 11 months.
Hey Nan, thanks for the link to the hair regrowth pics. My hair isn't growing quite as fast as hers. I am about a month behind. I wonder if age has anything to do with the rate of regrowth? I'll be 60 this year. I am pleased to say that my hair is the same salt and pepper color and is coming in thick...it's just slower than I would like. I finished Chemo on Oct 18. The chemo memories are starting to fade.........
I bought a styling product called hair putty from the Studio line by Loreal--it was on sale in the grocery store--and it makes my hair look fuller. My hair is maybe an inch long and I was gelling it to make it behave but this is much, much better and feels nice too.
I think the damage from radiation is improving. I had a follow-up CT last week and I don't have the results yet but I can breathe better. I had IMRT radiation. Did anyone else have IMRT? I didn't get burns on the outside but I sure got cooked on the inside. Let's hope if there were any cancer cells lurking that they got cooked too.
Leslie2
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Hey girls,,,,,,,,,,,,,havent posted in a while,,,,,,shame shame on me. Life is going along great. Busy with my grandson and the remodeling of the kitchen.
Nan, Katy, Leslie, Leslie, Carolina, Goodvibes, chemomom, Janet and anyone else that I may have missed,,,,,,,,I apologize ahead of time if I did,,,,,,,,but I hope life is treating you all well. I dont post very often,,,,,,,,but I do still come here off and on to catch up on everyones posts. To all the new ladies that I really dont know,,,,,,,,,and to the ones who are still doing chemo,,,,,,,,hang in there girls,,,,,,,,,,there is light at the end of the tunnel. This soon shall pass. Ive been done with chemo since the end of August,,,,,,,,,at the time it totally sucked and I hated every bit of it,,,,,but now, now that I have been done for a while,,,,,,,I look back and say,,,,,,,,,omg I did it. whoo hoo. lol And you will all be done too.
My hair is about 1 1/4 in long. I still am doing herceptin till the end of April,,,,,,and I have heard that that slows the growth down. Does anyone think thats true? And also,,,,,,I was wondering if anyone is taking Effexor for hot flashes? I went thru menopause many many years ago,,,and used to take estrogen for the hot flashes which helped greatly, and since I cant take hormones anymore the onc put me on effexor. Its really an anti-depressant (although I am not depressed) and I hated the fact of going on them,,,,,but the hot flashes were getting to be too much. So I am giving this a shot.
Having an egd and the dreaded colonoscopy this Thurs. ooooooo the fun never ends. lol I have had bad indigestion ever since the start of chemo so the doc just wants to check things out to make sure there is nothing wrong there. And he figured he could just do the colonoscopy at the same time. lol
Well,,,,,,,,,gotta get din din ready,,,,,,,,,,,I hope everyone is doing good. We all must be,,,,,,,cause we dont post as often anymore huh?
Take care girls,,,,,,,,,,,,
Cindy
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hello ladies i'm lurking around some different threds, I post on TC site and Feb chemo site, I am due to take my last tx tomorrow fingers cx my blood work is pending with high liver enzymes.
do I understand Cindy- your hair is not grown over 1 1/ since finishing chemo last May?
I have terrible heart burn, is this something I may continue to have for months as well?
I find this all amazing how many se involved, I seem to have had most to some extent, but I do believe it will all be worth it!
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Cindy: I am taking Lexapro for hot flashes -- actually I had a problem with night sweats waking me up. The Lexapro helped reduce the frequency but I was still waking up a couple of times a night. My onc also gave me a prescription for Neurontin (I'm taking the generic form) and I've been on that a month. I am no longer waking up with night sweats. I sometimes get very mild hot flushes during the day but they are not at all debilitating. Someone I met at chemo is taking Bellergal for hot flashes. She tried Neurontin and that didn't eliminate her night sweats. I think each person is different and you have to keep working to find the right drugs that might work for you.
Terri.
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Hey ladies,,,,,,,,,its me again. I really should post more often because its easier to keep up with everyone. lol
Patricia,,,,,,I finished chemo in August 07. And my hair is only like 1 1/4 in long. It sucks, I thought it would be longer by now,,,,,,,but I am wondering if the herceptin plays a part in slow growth. O well,,at least its coming in,,,,,,,,I was scared there for a while because it really didnt even start coming thru the scalp till about Dec. So maybe the 1 1/4 in I have isnt so bad, but I see pics of others that finished around the same time as me and they have way more hair than me. And the heartburn,,,,,,,,omg I had horrible heartburn when on chemo,,,,,but I took Protonix for that,,,,,then when I finished chemo the onc told me to stop taking the protonix and see if it got better. Well I was living off maalox and acid reducers of all sorts.....maybe chemo does something to our digestive tract. I will find out on Thursday and give you a heads up. And congrats on finishing chemo tomorrow. Wont that be nice? Soon you will be on your way to feeling more like yourself,,,,,thats a promise.
And Terri,,,,,,,thank you for the info.......I guess I will give the effexor a shot and see if that helps.
Good nite,,,,,,,,,,,Cindy
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hey everyone. just wanted to say hi.
Cindy- good luck with the EGD and colonoscopy. it won't be so bad. what prep are they having you take? I did the fleets phosphasoda prep, which I highly recommend. the prep in general sucks, however, it is nowhere as bad as the diarrhea I had when I was undergoing chemo! Make sure to have a clear liquid diet only the day before the test which will give you a better prep and also make the diarrhea less once you start it.
I have herceptin until the same time as you. in fact, I think I only have 2 more sessions to go and then I'm done!!! can't believe the time has flown by. unfortunately i haven't lost very much of the chemo weight. it has been a challenge to lose. I've lost about 10 pounds of it, but still have about 10 pounds to go before I'm back to my prechemo weight, which I wasn't satified with at the time, but I'll take being a size 8 anytime now compared to what I'm wearing right now. My hair is growing like crazy, but still nowhere as long as I would like it to be. the front is growing slower than the back. I'm hoping that when I'm off herceptin it will grow faster.
Leslie
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Cindy- thank you so much for your reply, I will check back later in the week to see what your doc says about the heart burn.
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Mary-Anne,
I just finished my 4th TCH treatment as well, and for some reason this one hit me like a ton of bricks! Very Scary and I can't imagine the 5th and the 6th. Reading this site and hearing all of you strong women who have made it through the whole treatment is very motivating to me!
I also just got my last "expansion" with my expanders. So now, the reconstruction is at a hold stage until after my chemo is done. Does anyone have any experience w/ this? What about radiation? I want to refuse radiation, has anyone else done this?0 -
Hey There, Special K!
Of course your doctor will have the most accurate recommendations for you regrading radiation, but just so you know, typically women who have smaller tumors and who have undergone a mastecomy do not need radiation therapy. I am not sure what constitutes "small" tumors, because that is a pretty relative term.
I had a lumpectomy with radiation, and I was told that had I opted for the mastectomy, they likely would have recommended radiation anyway. I am young (33) and that means I am going to be treated aggressively all the way.
I won't lie and say that rads was fun - cause it was pretty sucky and a real mental drain. I hated lying half-naked on a table while people drew on me and moved me around like a beached whale. I also live in Maine - and had my treatments during a very bad and snowy winter, where bad weather and frequently breaking down machines added days onto my sentence. This is not the typical rads experience - and compared to everything else we have been through - it is completley doable and worthwhile if it buys a little extra insurance against EVER having to be back here again!
Good luck with your decision and my suggestion would be to see what your onc thinks. If they recommend rads - try this approach...ask them to convince you why you need rads. They may very well have good reasons for the recommendation that are specific to your case.
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Leslie:
I am on the 3month lupron......How many more herceptin doses do you have? I'm trying to figure out when exactly I'll be done. I guess you, Cindy and I should finish about the same time.......
I have been having somewhat elevated blood pressure....any problems with that anyone? I read that the femara can do it, but I'm trying to figure it out so I don't have to add that med! Suggestions?
Katymom
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Thanks Nanegge- I appreciate that. I'm 33 too! We have a lot of life to live still!
Special K0 -
Katymom-My first dose of chemo was May 7th, 2007 and I didn't miss any doses or have any delays, so my last herceptin is april 28th. I know that is a study going on right now that should be out by June regarding whether 2 years instead of just 1 year of herceptin is more beneficial. My oncologist says she doesn't think it will show 2 years is better than 1, but I'm going to keep my port in just in case until we know the results because I don't want to have to go through getting it inserted again if i have to continue for another year. sorry to hear about the elevated blood pressure. hopefully it is just temporary?
I'm walking in the Y-Me breast cancer walk this mother's day. should be a good way to mark our 1 year anniversary of starting chemo! how are you doing otherwise? are you fully back to normal?
Leslie0 -
My hair is coming back a different color!!!! It used to be red and is coming back sort of an ash blond with a tiny bit of dark brownish red. I was prepared for different texture, but not this weird color. Oh well at least it's coming back. I wonder if I would have any problems dyeing it while I'm on the Herceptin treatments. My onc is still saying I'll need these treatments for the rest of my life. UGH!!!
Fawn
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Leslie:
Do you know what the name of that study is.....I would like to pass it by my onc......also, saw there was a trial involving adding tykerb to the herceptin, but it is really new so I guess we're not eligible....I started blood pressure meds.....just couldn't get it down, so I guess that is the best thing...I've started walking a lot more and a lot faster to boost my heart rate and get stronger. I don't exercise like I used to....Did your oncologist tell you not to do any lifting--like weights? Mine stresses that and also says not to lift more than 10 pounds....that is really not much! Just wondered what everyone else is hearing....I think I started my chemo on May 12th so I should be right behind you because I didn't miss any either. How many doses were we supposed to have? Not sure I ever had that info.....How is the aromasin? I am doing ok with the femara....I seem to have adjusted to it for now.....I did read that these drugs can elevate bp...
Anyway, it is late....early day tomorrow....talk soon.
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Katymom- I don't know the name of the study because I has not come out yet with the results, but I'll be on the lookout for it and let you know as soon as I know what they found.
the herceptin currently is just supposed to be for 1 year, so your last dose should be whatever dose is before or on May 12th.
As far as lifting weights, I did not have full axillary dissection. I only had a lumpectomy and sentinal lymph node biopsy, so I was told by my surgeon and oncologist that I could do whatever I wanted. I've been working out with a personal trainer trying to lose some of the weight I gained since diagnosis and she has me lifting weights. I hate exercising so unfortunately I have to pay someone to force me to do it!
The aromasin is SOOO much better for me than the femara. the only have mild joint aching at night, with the femara I could barely do my work, so that's no good. I'm glad you are tolerating the femara aside from the high blood pressure. What blood pressure medicine do they have you on? hydrochlorothiazide or norvasc or something else? Just curious.
Leslie
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Hello ladies! Next week I will have my 4th TCH treatment out of 6. I'm on the three week cycle. I don't know what's doing it to me, but I hate the weight gain - and not enough energy (or determination) to get it off. I feel like I'm eating less, but maybe not. I do know I'm drinking less wine and margaritas. Shouldn't that help! Any suggestions would be appreciated. Spring is here and I can't fit into any of my clothes - nor do I have the cash to buy a new wardrobe for my new size (that I don't like!)
As far as the discussion on which chemo regime to take - my onc described it to me this way. The area of the country you live in - and which area/major cancer center your onc trained in - have a large effect on which treatments they like to suggest. For example, if you are in the northeast, Sloan Kettering is the major cancer research center, and they have put a lot of time and $$ into dose dense AC-T research --- so that is most likely what they will suggest. Not that TCH isn't good also, but they aren't as familiar with it.
Anyway, I read a lot of posts about hair loss. When mine was really starting to come out, we found a local event sponsered by St. Baldrick's. They are a nation-wide charity - they get people to raise money to get their heads shaved - and all of the money goes to a local children's hospital to fight cancer. I ended up having a short mohawk for about 2 weeks. It was fun, and a nice 'ease' into being bald. My young girls (7 and 5) had a great time with it also. One little boy in my daughter's class even called it my 'mustache'! LOL!
I didn't get a wig - not my thing. I've got a collection of scarves, hats and bandanas - and like them, but I also find myself just going bald at times. I like them to keep my head warm, many times it is a good look for my outfit, or fun to wear a hat when I'm going somewhere nice. But when it gets scratchy or too hot - take it off. In some ways kind of view it like a bad comb over. I also find that I get more "poor, pitiful you" looks when I wear something - and I hate those looks. I want to feel like a strong, survivor - not a pitiful patient, even on the bad days.
Andrea
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Cindy,
I did Taxotere and Cytoxane for a total of 6 times...I started to lose my hair after treatment 2 but it stopped and proceeded to get thin until #5...I had a large amount fall out and had to go to wigs. I was soooooo depressed. It was , by far, the hardest thing for me to go through. Cut your hair in a Victoria Becham cut if your hair is long. I had read that taking mega Vitamin E 1-2 weeks prior to your start of chemo would help with hair loss so I took about 1200mg every day and I do think it helped. Most people do gain wt from chemo but my wt held steady because I continued to work out and do aerobic class. If you are active,look at the website "Hip Hats with Hair" as the are really cool pony tails you wear with ball caps. Is there a new study with carboplatin??? I was offered Cytoxan... Barb0 -
Leslie:
I am on lisinopril for the blood pressure----seems to be working...
I have a question---I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy, also. They did remove 3 (I think) lymph nodes. The first one then the next one was too small, and 2 more to be sure it had not spread (it hadn't)....Is that pretty much what you had, too? My onc says NOOOO lifting which is really hard. I too have some extra weight to get rid of and it is really hard. I love to row and he said no rowing. Anyway, just wanted to check with you.....I think there is a fear of lymphadema....
Anyone else have any ideas about that?
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That is a good question about the whole lymphedema thing.
I had 12 nodes taken (only one was +), but I wasn't told that I had to restrict my lifting beyond the healing time from surgery. In fact, aside from not lifting anything in those first 3 weeks, I used my arm like I always did. I did not baby it because I didn't want to get frozen shoulder or anything.
I have not had any problems. My NP said that she thought my risk of lymphedema was pretty low. I know that I should know better, but I still use a razor under that arm - although the hair growth there is not like my other arm. I also occaasionally let labs draw on that arm, but don't let them use a tourniquet. I know - I am a non-compliant patient, but there is only so much I can keep putting my left arm through.
I wonder if lymphedema can crop up in later years. Maybe in 20 years my arm will swell like Snoopy in the Macy's parade!
I'm tolerating the tamoxifen pretty well, with the exception of scattered muscle aches. I have FOUR MORE herceptin treatments, and I am very happy about that! My hair is pretty close to the pictures from that link I shared. It's been 20 - 25 weeks since my last chemo infusion and I have close to 3 inches of hair. My curl is coming back, and my formerly dark brown hair is now pretty black. No grey, so I won't complain, but still not going topless out in public.
Hope everyone out there is doing well!
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katymom, I had 4 nodes removed during my sentinal node biopsy and I'm allowed to do whatever I want. your surgeon may just be conservative, afraid of lymphadema, but I'm told the chances of lymphadema after sentinal node biopsy and radiation is low, no one will give me a number, but just that it is better than having a whole axillary lymph node dissection. I, however, do not let them draw blood or put a blood pressure cuff on it, because once, I forgot and let them take my blood pressure and I swear my arm hurt for the whole week and my hand a was a bit swollen all week also.
I'm working out with a personal trainer and have lost 11 of the 17 pounds I gained with chemo. it's really hard. I've had to cut down the amount I eat by ALOT. I feel like I barely eat now, but I swear the meds really slow down my metabolism. the first 6 came off quickly but the rest has been a struggle. good luck with the workout stuff, you can do it!
Leslie
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I heard a song on the radio by 3 Doors Down called "It's not my time". When I hear it, I think of it as my cancer fight song. The chorus goes:
It's not my time, I'm not going
There's a fear in me, but it's not showing
This could be the end of me and everything I know,
but I won't go. No I won't go!
Fawn
staying strong
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I'm joining you guys kicking and screaming all the way!! I was rediagnosed with a local recurence (bummer, but at least all scans PET,CT & Bone scan came back clean). I will be doing TCH, but the TC will be on a weekly cycle for 6 weeks, then 2 weeks off for 4-6 cycles. Has anyone done this schedule? I'm not real sure I like the idea of being on chemo till November... Ok, I really don't like it, I find it quite depressing.
Anyone with any tips or help I'd appreciate it !
Thanks,
Linda
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Sorry about the post above... I have no idea what's up with the <font> every sentence......
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hi there! Started TCH on April 23rd. No nausea, no vomiting. Caught a cold on day 7-lasted five days. Feeling good, exercising again-just a bit less. Have a little rash on my face.All in all, thought it would be a lot worse. Have a port. Getting the port though was the worst for me so far. Had a bad reaction to the anesthesia. Don't want to frighten anyone-they did say it was uncommon-that I was probably one out two people they ever saw at this hospital-to react the way I did. Threw up all over the hospital. Walked home. I live about 15 blocks away. Sick all the way. Threw up violently all over my front steps, in front of all my neighbors. Never thought I would make it to chemo the next day, but I did.
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Hi ftg Just wanted to say that I relate totally to your fight song. In my head I keep saying"I'm not going anywhere, I just have too many things I need to take care of and to many things I want to do" I'm pretty convinced I'm gonna being stickin around.
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I haven't posted in a while. I am now 4 months out from my last chemo. The hair is growing slower than I expected. I have a bit over half an inch. It still looks like boy hair. The color is becoming more like my normal color; it's still fine and straight. That's what I had before so I may be one of the few who don't get curly hair after it grows back. My eyelashes are finally coming in -- they too are growing so slowly. My eyebrows remain sparse but I can live with that.
I am back to my full strength in terms of exercise (mainly lap swimming), but I do find that I'm tired if I don't get 9 hours of sleep a night. So I'm tired most of the time, but I still try to exercise since I know it's good for me.
I'm still in chemopause and the hot flashes have increased in frequency since I started Tamoxifen. My CYP2D6 (or whatever it's called) test came back showing I am an "extensive" metabolizer so I can stick with the Tamoxifen. I am tolerating it very well. About six warm flushes a day -- I can deal with that. I am still on Lexapro and Neurontin to help keep the hot flashes under control.
Blocked tear ducts are 90% gone. I still get weepy eyes, usually when I'm walking outside.
All of my recent tests (tumor markers, chem panel, LB mammogram, chest CT and echocardiogram) all came back normal. It was good to see BIRADS 2 - Benign on the mammo report. I feel like I'm starting to get back to "normal". Another half inch of hair would help.
TomatoJuice -- I had the face rash for the first four treatments. It got pretty bad (so very itchy) for #3 and for #4 it was so bad I couldn't sleep so I called the Onc. The nurses said to try Claritin (I did, it didn't help) or Benadryl. My onc ended up giving me a prescription for Atarax, an antihistimine that is not supposed to make you sleepy since I was still working full time. I didn't have the rash for the last two treatments.
Terri.
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Hi gals, I had my 3rd TCH Tuesday so I'm halfway done!! My side effects don't kick in til tomorrow so I'm planning on enjoying today. I do get a really red inflammed face the day after treatment that looks like one giant hot flash. Thankfully it only last one day.
Terri, sorry your hairs growing in so slowly, ugh another thing to dissappoint us. My hair "was" blonde, so I have visions of it coming in red. It was also 20% gray so I have a strong feeling it'll all be gray.
Getting the port in for me was no big deal. I was awake through it, listened to the doctor complaining about having to take his dog out potty during the night so much (I found that quite entertaining as I have 2 dogs) I was ready to go home right after they wheeled me out. My hubby, however, had a reaction to anesthesia after surgery to remove a kidney stone and was really sick.
Linda, sorry you have to do chemo through November, bummer. So glad for you it didn't spread, that's the scariest part. Don't know anyone off hand doing TCH every week. Good luck with that.
Hey tomato juice, I've talked to you a few times. Must be nice, no nausea at all, mine isn't horrible, just icky, annoying, and last for a few days. I exercise also on week 2 and 3, but I do tire faster so I've gone from 50 minute workouts to 35, better than nothing!!
I'd love to see this conversation keep going. There's just not a lot of us on this "recipe" that posts about it. God Bless, Mary
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I'm just wondering if others are finding they are retaining a lot of fluid? I have finished 3 of 4 TCH (oncologist downgraded to 4 treatment rather than 6 because the treatment works so well - boy was that nice to hear). Anyway, I've gained 9 pounds! Now granted, I have been more sedentary during treatment, but I sure am not eating a lot. I am nauseous and exhausted days 2-7 after treatment. Just haven't been able to find that magic pill for the nausea.
Have a good day - just herceptin for me this week!
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